Divine Savior Church-Santa Rita Ranch Sermons

Pastor Apt shares a message for Transfiguration Sunday. Support the show

The coach observes his athletes, jots down his notes, compares the times, and then he speaks. He teaches. He gives important directions. Those with the humility to accept his instructions and encouragements will grow in their abilities. Those who think they know better will struggle and fail. Jesus is so much more than a coach. He is our God - our Savior! When he teaches and instructs us, it’s imp...

All along the course the runners find distractions. Some in the crowd cheer you on, some in the crowd cheer on your opponents. Some praise your form and skill. Some accuse you of cheating. But you can’t get distracted. You need to stay focused on what is most important. Jesus faced many distractions in his ministry, but he always stayed focused on the most important thing - drawing more and more t...

What inspires you to get up each day?  What allows you to live with joy? With the hardships and struggles we experience in this world, we need something to encourage us and empower us to live well each day. Money, philosophy, and technology might be tools we use, but they aren’t the reason we live. Jesus uses tools to bring his incredible and miraculous grace into our hearts. That grace can inspir...

Some athletes are simply incredible. When they compete, you can’t help but stare in awe and wonder at the strength they exert, the focus on their task, the abilities with which they have been blessed, and what they are able to accomplish. It tells you something about their origin, their work ethic, their determination, and you wonder what drives them so hard. You can’t help but stare in awe and wo...

Every race has a start. As they prepare, and step up to the line, the competitors already have their minds and hearts on the finish line. They take their mark. There’s silence. The gun cracks and muscles instantly respond with action. The race is on! The eyes of the crowd are drawn in. Every race has a start, but it all began far before that moment. As did Jesus’ race to the cross. It began in tim...

Guest pastor Pastor Tom Unke shares a message on the Song of Simeon answering the question "When is a person really prepared?" Support the show

Pastor Apt shares a message for Christmas. Support the show

Have you ever asked God for a sign? Did he deliver? Today God tells us to ask for a sign - to test him? He tells us to pray: “Thy Kingdom come.” He wantsus to see the signs of his kingdom. The sign of his holy Word preserved through millennia The sign of water combined with that Word of God. The sign of the most fulfilling feast laid out upon his table. The signs that remind us that God remains &q...

A barren landscape bursts into vibrant blossoms. What an amazing sight to witness, but Isaiah speaks of the miraculous and instantaneous power of God. God's kingdom truly does bring joy; everlasting joy. He miraculously works it out of the chaos we see in the world and the chaos that churns inside our own hearts. We are all blind, dead, lame, and mute in our own ways. Jesus changes everything...

The season of Advent is a time to prepare our hearts to welcome their rightful king.  Jesus’ kingdom is one of righteousness, peace, hope, and joy.  Yet, we can often lose sight of such things as we fall into the rhythms and rhetoric of the world which surrounds us.  Rivals to Jesus' throne rise in our hearts. In this series we focus on prophecies from Isaiah that direct us to watch and wait...

Where do you turn when you need information and quick? Do you ask Siri, Alexa, Google?  Are "smart" producs on your Christmas lists?  Artificial intelligence as become more personal, more powerful - giving us an immediate place for questions and needs. What about the questions you can't ask your techie toys.  What about God’s kingdom and how it comes? Isaiah tells us where to turn –...

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”. This week we focus on relationships. It’s easy to believe that relationships succeed (They’re so awesome!) or fail (They’re so miserable!) because of the “other” person. In contrast, the book of Proverbs te...

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”. This week we focus on heartache. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives. Loss of job, friend, family member, savings, health, leisure, or ability creates a void capable of destroying the human spir...

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”. This week we focus on self-control. In a world with limitless possibilities, self-control seems elusive. Overeating, underbudgeting, binge-drinking, and living large are the norm. But if no one gets hurt, w...

This week we focus on pride. Pride is the conclusion in one’s thinking that a person, idea, or thing is better than another. This conclusion justifies any praise or humiliation in attitude or treatment that result from the thinking. It can be as quiet as a turned-up nose or as loud as derogatory comment. All of it is detrimental to everyone involved. In the series this week learn what Proverbs has...

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”. This week we focus on envy. Envy is the awful feeling you have when you know you should celebrate someone’s good fortune but think it really should have happened to you instead. Envy makes it hard to rejoic...

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”. This week we focus on money. The evil of pursuing money at all cost and the injustices caused by greed are obvious. And yet, commerce and economy are core to our society. How can you deal wisely with money...

Everyone likes a guarantee. It makes us feel safe. Hesitation in the grey zone of “what if” causes doubt, worry, and fear. We prefer confirmation, a stamp of approval, and the proven process that gives confidence, a sense of security, and builds excitement for what’s to come.  The book of Proverbs shows that God’s path of wisdom gives us the confidence we’re looking for because it’s different than...

Everyone knows to get to the right destination you must start in the right place and head in the right direction. The same is true for wisdom. But whose way is right? Experts offer wisdom through short cuts, techniques, and formulas. Friends give advice from experience. Our own hearts lead with emotion. Artificial intelligence uses science and facts. But who’s right? Only Proverbs points to the ri...

A godly pursuit of wisdom has an ultimate goal of living God’s way as outlined in the Bible. Unfortunately, life in a sinful world means our path is filled with distractions, deterrents, and delays. Often these roadblocks are even more alluring than annoying. They threaten to derail a godly pursuit of wisdom by encouraging us to settle for less than everything God has planned for us. Because of th...

Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do at the right time for any given circumstance-especially when there’s no “right” answer. But how do you get wisdom?  Like walking a path, pursuing wisdom begins with knowing where to start, where to go, and what to expect along the way. This week we begin the series on Proverbs by defining wisdom, showing where to find it, and learning how to grow in it.  Sup...

Made solid by the undergirding promises of Jesus, the apostle Peter acted boldly and courageously. Sometimes this acting-before-thinking disciple pushed the envelope of courage to its border with foolishness, but Jesus was always there to pull him back. Support the show

Loved by his Lord, John expressed the same kind of love to his Lord and others. His writings in the Scriptures encourage followers of Jesus in that same love. Support the show

This tax collector turned apostle experienced firsthand the loving mercy of the Messiah, who came to save sinners. He turned around and wrote a lot about it in his gospel.  Support the show